By Delaney Crawford
The Special Olympics is home to nearly 4 million athletes worldwide and has become a global movement. With local, state, national and regional events taking place around the world, more than 100,000 Special Olympics competitions are held each year.
The Special Olympics USA Games are held every four years, with different cities bidding to host the event. The most recent games took place in 2026 at the University of Minnesota. To earn a spot at the national games, athletes must first qualify through their state’s program. During qualifying years, athletes who win gold medals at their respective state games are selected to represent their states at the USA Games.
For athletes in New Jersey, the journey begins with local competitions held throughout the year. Athletes from Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland counties compete in area events before advancing to the Special Olympics New Jersey Summer Games, held annually at The College of New Jersey. Every four years, the Summer Games serve as the qualifying event for the USA Games, with gold medal winners earning the opportunity to compete on the national stage.
As large as the Special Olympics has become, many people still don’t know much about the organization or how it works. One community that has truly embraced the mission is Ocean City.
Jackie Adams currently coaches Team New Jersey’s track and field team and loves everything the organization represents. Adams also coaches with the Upper Township Challenger Sports Program, a co-ed recreation program that adapts sports and social activities for individuals with special needs.
The Challengers program was founded by local parents Daryl and Jen DiTroia after their son, Cameron, was diagnosed with autism. At the time, there were few opportunities for children with special needs to participate in organized sports, so Daryl started a soccer league called Challenger Sports. High school students volunteered as buddies to help the athletes participate, and from those humble beginnings, the program has continued to grow.
When the program first started, Adams was a senior soccer player at Ocean City High School and immediately wanted to get involved.
“I remember thinking it was awesome, and when I graduated and stayed home to attend Stockton, I kept volunteering. He eventually asked me to become a coach, and then the Challengers program just kept growing and growing from there,” Adams said. “I learned more about the Special Olympics, and as the Challengers grew, we decided to get involved with that as well.”
Years later, Adams had the opportunity to coach Team New Jersey’s track and field athletes at the 2026 USA Games, where one local Challenger athlete brought home a gold medal.
Anthony Conner, a 35-year-old resident of Cape May Court House, won gold in the 1,500-meter race.
Adams shared that during the race, the runner ahead of Anthony fell, allowing Anthony to take the lead and cross the finish line first. While Anthony was thrilled with the victory, his first thought was for the athlete who had fallen.
During the medal ceremony, Anthony invited the second- and third-place finishers to stand on the top step of the podium with him, choosing to celebrate the moment together rather than alone.
“They teach us more than we teach them, honestly,” Adams said. “They’re not just great athletes, they’re great people. I’ve become friends with so many of them. It was so rewarding to see Anthony, who had never been on a plane before this trip and had never experienced anything like this, win a national championship and then immediately lift up those other two athletes during his biggest moment.”
Adams said moments like Anthony’s podium celebration are common within the Special Olympics community, where athletes constantly encourage and support one another.
“Getting to coach these athletes puts everything into perspective,” Adams said. “They’re the happiest athletes, and it’s the perfect mix of having fun, pure enjoyment of the sport and competitiveness. They have that drive to win, but it’s also just their love of the game. They’re incredible sports with everyone, and they constantly cheer each other on.”
Adams also said the support from families and the community makes the experience even more meaningful for the athletes. Through her role with Ocean City Recreation, she has helped bring awareness and support for the Special Olympics beyond the Challengers program and into the community as a whole.
While Adams and Anthony represented Team New Jersey in track and field, both the Special Olympics and the Challengers program offer athletes opportunities to participate in a wide variety of sports throughout the year.
Athletes can begin competing in Special Olympics at age 8. Younger children can participate in the Young Athletes program, which introduces sports skills through play and structured activities for children ages 2 to 7. One of those programs is hosted right in Ocean City, allowing local families to get involved early before athletes are old enough to compete in the larger competition.
For Adams, that’s what makes the Special Olympics so special. It’s about much more than medals or championships. It’s a space that gives these athletes the opportunity to compete, build confidence, form lasting friendships and experience moments they may never have imagined possible. Through the Special Olympics and organizations like the Challengers, every athlete has a place to belong, and the Ocean City community continues to help make those opportunities possible.
Delaney Crawford is a dynamic entrepreneur with a passion for storytelling and digital marketing. Driven by a desire to empower local businesses, Delaney founded DLC Media, a company dedicated to helping businesses enhance their brand image and thrive online.
